Vettel hints Red Bull staying with Renault

Sebastian Vettel this week has given another sign that Red Bull is staying with Renault power for the 2010 season.

McLaren, Mercedes' exclusive F1 partner, vetoed Red Bull's desired switch to the German marque's engines, and it is believed that moving to Cosworth was ruled out due to question marks about the returning British supplier's 2.4 litre V8.

It is believed that an internal deadline at Red Bull Racing simply came and went without a decision, moving Adrian Newey to progress with work on the 2010 car on the basis of the current Renault specification.

Team driver Vettel was asked by spox.com if he wanted to be powered next year by the Mercedes engine, which is regarded as the best currently in F1.

"It is obvious that the Mercedes engine was an important piece of the success of Brawn," the German answered.

"As a team, and myself as a driver, we want the best possible package. That will be possible next season with different engines, including the Renault," added Vettel.

Red Bull was thought to be on the verge of announcing an ongoing Renault deal, but the French manufacturer's deliberations about its future in Formula One are causing yet another delay.

Renault's hypothetical withdrawal from F1 as a chassis maker might benefit Red Bull, as the carmaker is tipped to stay on the grid solely as an engine supplier.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, meanwhile, reports talks about a takeover of Renault's F1 engine division between the carmaker and Mario Illien.